29 East 32nd Street

The three-story building at 29 East 32nd Street began its life in 1890 as a sanctuary for book lovers. Architect Charles W. Romeyn designed this structure specifically for the Grolier Club, which was then the preeminent society in North America for printers, publishers, and bibliophiles. Members gathered here to study rare volumes, discuss typography, and preserve the art of bookmaking at a time when they feared traditional printing methods were disappearing. To help the clubhouse blend into what was then a quiet residential block, Romeyn gave the facade a purposefully domestic appearance rather than the imposing scale of typical commercial buildings.